Ways to Cultivate a Love for Learning in Your Child

My children have been homeschooled their entire lives. The closest thing to a traditional classroom they have experienced is a week at summer day camp at a local elementary school. When my oldest son was 2, I realized his mind was like a sponge. Through the use of flash cards, my reading books to him, and educational websites he began reading at 2 1/2. At that point my husband and I decided that homeschool would be the best option for him. We didn’t want to slow down his development nor stunt his educational growth. 

Speed up to present day, our three children actually enjoy school work. It’s something they look forward to everyday. Unwarranted they get up and get started on their lessons for the day with no instruction from me. I’ve laid the foundation for them to love learning and today I’ll share some of my methods with you! You don’t have to homeschool to put these practices in place and they are easy enough to begin immediately. 

Create an environment for learning – Our home is filled with resources for independent learning. We have several bookshelves filled with books on a variety of topics. Unfortunately with advancements in technology, people buy books less. Not in our home. We cultivate the love for learning by having reading materials available everywhere. In addition to having reading materials, my children have access to all of the school supplies. Pens, pencils, markers, crayons, safety scissors, etc. They are free to use them as they wish when they feel like it. 

Say no to TV – Educational programming is apart of our curriculum. The children enjoy educational animated programs as well as documentaries from time to time. However, we don’t own a television. We haven’t had one for years. After our old one bit the dust in 2007 we made the decision to not buy another. TV provides a lot of distraction and is a waste of time for children. Instead my children have to be more creative with the ways they entertain themselves. They are always working on a project or building something new. 

Get outside – There is so much to learn through exploration. Some of our best field trips have happened while traveling, like our visit to the Kennedy Space Center. My oldest son is interested in rocketry and engineering, and that trip was a chance for him to experience it hands on. My middle son wants to be an entomologist. Even though I’m squeamish plus I’m afraid he may get bitten by something, he’s generally been safe with insects. I see him in his element when we visit a garden. 

Find out what your children love – Learning is not forced in our home. I talk to my children to find out the things they are interested in, then we study those topics. We are essentially unschoolers, but with a little more structure in our curriculum. My children can be found doing their school work up until it’s bedtime just because they want to. I have to tell them it’s time to put their books away until the next day. I allow them to study the topics they want, not what I want them to learn even though we cover all of the essential basics. 

I have witnessed so many children dislike school, doing homework, and their parents having to force them to get excited about learning. With implementation of a few of these tips, if you’ve struggled with getting your child to love education, hopefully they will be well on their way! 

What are some ways you cultivate the love of learning in your child? 

Ashley